By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School softball team held off a late rally to defeat visiting non-Northwest Conference foe Crestview 8-7 on Thursday, April 23.

The Pirates led 5-4 after a seesaw first four innings. The Knight girls tied it with a run in the top of the sixth, but Bluffton answered with three runs in the home half of the sixth to regain the lead at 8-5.

Crestview plated two runs in the seventh, but came up a run short.

The Knights narrowly out-hit Bluffton, 12-11. The Pirates made two errors, while Crestview played error-less defense.

“Wednesday night at practice we worked on getting ahead at the plate and becoming more aggressive, and it showed,” said Pirate head coach Brad Prater. 

“We also changed the lineup because we were leaving too many on base. We had a lot more options with our lineup and could advance runners via bunting and such. 

“Crestview’s catcher (Thornell) has a very strong arm, which limits steals,” he continued. “Peyton left a few early pitches too much over the plate,  they took advantage of them and hit the ball very well.” 

The Pirate girls improved to 4-8 overall and 3-0 in NWC play with the home victory.  

Crestview dropped to 5-10 and 3-1 in the NWC after the defeat.

Winning pitcher Peyton Worcester hurled all seven innings and scattered 12 hits among five earned runs. She walked none and struck out five. 

At the plate, she smashed a home run and a double to drive in two runs. She scored three times and walked once.

Senior Macy Schaadt stroked a double and a single, and had one run batted in. Haelee Rayle hit two singles and scored two runs. 

Junior shortstop Greta Myers singled twice and scored two runs with one RBI. Pirate freshman third sacker Evelyn Boyles slapped two singles and had two RBI.    

Catcher Karleigh Davis drew a walk and scored one run. Tala Gipson singled. Bluffton freshman second baseman Elana Navarro walked twice and scored a run. 

Myers and Davis each stole two bases.

Dakota Thornell hit a solo home run and two singles for Crestview, and also scored three runs. Violet Dirr tripled home two runs.

“I was pleased with only three strikeouts,” said Prater. “The team showed  a lot of fight and never gave up, even after a few routine plays that turned into Crestview runs.”

The Pirates left seven runners on base while Crestview stranded five.

Bluffton entertains non-league foe Ottawa Hills (1-6) on Friday. OH earned its first win of the spring over Cardinal Stritch Tuesday, 19-9.

WP-Worcester   LP-Thatcher

2B-Schaadt (B), Worcester (B)

3B-Dirr (C)

HR-Thornell (C ), Worcester (B)